"We could work on that political debate argument for Timber's boyfriend," suggested Gina. "Timber can't be the only one good enough to advance to the final debate with Mr. Santelli."
"Come on Gina, that's not happening for two weeks!" said Kendra. "I don't want to do school work on vacation! We'll work on it after Thanksgiving break is over, okay?"
"I can't debate with him," said Timber.
"Don't want to disagree with your boyfriend?" teased Ashley.
"No, we won't actually be able to debate," said Timber. "We have the same political views. The only one of us who would actually be able to debate with him is Ashley and that's on, what is it, two topics?"
"Government interference and welfare, right?" asked Gina.
"That sounds right," said Ashley.
The beauty of living in such a small town, at least for Timber and her friends, meant the chances of having at least one teacher in common was highly likely. Xianna and Timber were in Henry's second period class, Gina was in his fourth period class and Ashley and Kendra had him for fifth period. The girls also had the same physical education teacher.
"I guess you're buying me ice cream this year," said Gina with a small smile.
"Good morning, ladies. What can I get for you?" asked an older waitress.
The girls went around the table and ordered their food before giving their menus back to the waitress. She took them away with a polite smile and headed back to the kitchen.
"So I don't want to put a damper on the mood but have you heard what's going on with the name of the town?" asked Kendra leaning towards the middle of the table.
"No," everyone chorused.
"Apparently, there're some people in Sacramento who want to change the town name," said Kendra.
"Why?" asked Gina in complete disbelief. "There's nothing wrong with Fort Bragg!"
"The so-called 'problem' is who it was named after," said Kendra.
"Braxton Bragg never set foot in this town," said Timber with clear aggravation echoing in her voice. "Besides, the town was granted its name four years before the Civil War even started. It was named after him after the Mexican-American War by Major General Taylor, who served under him in the war. We have no connection with the Confederacy. If they did their research properly, they would know that."
"Timber, you should be a voice in this argument if it ever makes it to city hall," said Ashley. "You know this town's history better than anyone else I know."
"I have no interest in getting involved in politics," said Timber. "I have my views but I doubt anyone will take me seriously because of my age. They wouldn't even listen to reason when they closed the mill. That was the worst thing that could have happened. Thankfully the Skunk Train is still in operation and tourists flock here every summer. The hospital is already struggling thanks to the lack of people with insurance."
"Well I bet anything that Diana won't care if everyone loses their jobs," said Ashley. "Her dad is reeling in more money than he needs while some people are leaving town to find work. Just because he owns most of the commercial real estate..."
"Diana's happy alright," griped Timber. "She's as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine."
"You sound like your aunt again," said Gina and the girls laughed.
"Here's your food ladies," said the waitress from behind Kendra. She passed out the plates of food around the table, placing Timber's french toast and sausage in front of her.
"Thank you," the girls said together.
"Anyway, I have brighter news," said Xianna. "My brother and his fiancé finally set a date for the wedding. They want to get married next Christmas in Yosemite."
"That's going to be so beautiful," said Ashley enthusiastically. "But Yosemite gets snow. It's cold in the winter."
"Yosemite is going to be dry this year with the drought California is in," said Xianna. "Hopefully next year brings more rain."
Not much talking occurred while they were indulging themselves with their food. The usual bite sharing was going around so everyone had a bit of everything everyone else ordered. It was a tradition that started in the fourth grade when Timber joined the group and it never stopped. They cleared their plates and split the check and the tip and left.
"Now what?" asked Ashley looking up the street.
"We haven't wandered around in a while," suggested Kendra. "Why don't we browse?"
"Sounds good to me," said Timber.
"Let's go then," said Xianna.
The five girls walked up the road without any real idea of what they wanted to see. They walked up the sidewalk, popping into various stores from Windsong Used Books and Records to Triangle Tattoo Museum which none of them had been in before. By the end of it, Kendra announced that she wanted a tattoo. They wandered into a small local toy store called Spunky Skunk. Forgetting they were no longer nine years old, they found puppets and dress up clothes and played Princesses and Dragons with theatrical antics until parents of small children began looking at them questionably. They put the toys back and left the store laughing.
"So I have an idea," said Kendra as they left Spunky Skunk.
"Oh no," joked Ashley.
"We should go get our hair done," said Kendra. "Nothing drastic. Just a trim."
"I'm overdue for a trim," said Timber, touching her loose bun. "I'm up for it. I may be obligated to change my hair completely. It's been one length forever."
"I think it's a good idea," said Xianna. "Gina?"
"I could use a trim," admitted Gina. "If we're going to get our hair done, we're going to Head Hunters."
"I agree," said Ashley. "Let's go."
They set off rather enthusiastically to Head Hunters Hair Salon. Luckily it was very close to where they were because they were getting a little tired from walking for two hours straight. When they went in they grinned because every seat was empty and no one was waiting.
"Hello ladies. How may I help you today?" asked a plump woman coming to the counter.
"We would all like a small change," said Xianna. "We don't have appointments. It was kind of a spontaneous decision."
"That's alright," said the woman. "What would you like?"
"Three trims, and two cuts," said Xianna.
"Are you all paying separately?" asked the woman.
"Yes, Ma'am," said Gina.
"Okay, I'll get things ready for you. We only have three members on staff now so two of you will have to wait."
"We'll wait," said Xianna, motioning to herself and Ashley. "We won't take as long."
Xianna had a point. Timber and Kendra were getting haircuts and Gina was getting a trim but Gina's curls were so tight, it would take a little while to make it all even. Xianna and Ashley both had straight hair so trimming would not take long at all.
Timber was brought over to the stylist's chair. An hour later, the scissors stopped cutting. When her hair was finished, it was two inches shorter with subtle layers that blended together seamlessly. Timber had never seen her hair like this. This new hair cut looked much more grown-up and sophisticated. It waved naturally at the ends and it felt so soft.
"Holy crap Timber!" exclaimed Ashley, when Timber showed them her new, less fluffy hair. "You look freaking awesome!"
"Oh, Henry is going to go nuts," said Xianna.
"Without a doubt," said Kendra who could see Timber through the mirror. Timber looked at Kendra and gasped. All of her long black hair was gone and the hairdresser was finishing up the last bit of the pixie cut.
"Oh, my stars! Your HAIR!" cried Timber.
Xianna and Ashley turned and gasped when they saw Kendra.
"Your mom will go insane," said Xianna who looked mildly impressed.
"Why do you think I had it chopped off?" asked Kendra. "Also my hair was too much maintenance."
"Are you finally rebelling?" asked Timber.
"I've been rebelling since the day I was born, you know that," said Kendra.
Timber's hairdresser finished clearing up Timber's hair and took Xianna.
Gina was almost done in her chair but she had put her earbuds in and was either resting her eyes or taking a nap; Timber couldn't tell.
"So does this mean you're actually going to wear the leather jacket your mom doesn't know you have?" asked Ashley with a grin.
"Yeah, and my combat boots," said Kendra.
"You're definitely your mom's worst nightmare," said Timber with a giggle. Timber had always liked the uniqueness of her friends. Kendra though was the edgier one of the group and Timber loved it about her.
"Watch. Your mom is going to make you late for school next Monday over your outfit," said Ashley with a grin. "Why are you not feminine enough? Why are you going away from tradition? Why do you listen to all that mess you call music?"
"And it'll all be spoken in Spanish," said Kendra laughing. "She wants me to find a nice Mexican boy to keep with tradition and heritage. I'm going to marry a black man to make her mad."
The woman finished Kendra's hair and she got up to show her friends clearly. The change was drastic. Kendra's long black hair was gone. Instead, she was now sporting a kind of Asymmetric pixie cut with her side-swept bangs falling just below her chin.
After another twenty minutes, Xianna and Ashley were finished. Everything was paid for and the girls left happy and confident. Timber noticed how light her wavy hair felt in the cool ocean breeze and it made her stand a little straighter. Kendra was walking with a new kick in her step too. Xianna, Ashley, and Gina hadn't had much of a change but they too were walking with their heads a little higher.
"I'm hungry," said Ashley. "Do you want to go to the deli?"
"Sure."
They walked into the Depot Mall and Laurel Deli Café and the first thing Timber noticed was Sean working behind the counter. She groaned and rubbed her forehead with her hand. She didn't want to see him.
"Oh come on Timber, he's not a bad guy," said Ashley. "You know that. We grew up with him. Besides, I think he's kind of cute."
"Me too," said Kendra.
"I don't like him anymore," said Timber. "Something about him feels wrong now." She sighed. "Oh well. I'm too hungry to worry about it."
They approached the counter with Timber in the back of the group and they took turns ordering their food. Timber ordered her usual and took a step back but Sean stopped her.
"I like your haircut, Timber," he said. "You look more grown-up."
"Thank you," said Timber politely. For some reason, every fiber in her body was telling her that she needed to leave and run the other way but everyone had already paid for lunch. "We're going to go sit down."
Timber went to the table as far away from the counter as she could find and slumped down into it. She was shaking and she knew why. Her body wanted to Turn.
"Timber, relax," said Kendra. "He just complimented your hair."
Timber nodded but remained silent as her friends sat down around her. Instinct was a difficult thing to try to explain and Timber knew her friends wouldn't understand though they would try their hardest. Instead, she looked at the newspaper clipping table cover and read a small article from 1936. She thought back a few years. He never made her uncomfortable until last May. They sat beside each other in the fifth grade and everything was fine, then. She wondered what happened that changed her feeling toward him. Her train of thought derailed when Sean brought them their lunch and placed a drink in front of Timber.
"I didn't order a drink," said Timber.
"It's on the house," he said. He grinned in a way that made Timber want to cringe and he walked away.
"That was sweet," said Ashley.
"I'm not touching it," said Timber firmly. There was an unusual odor coming from the soda suggesting to Timber that he had laced it with something. Out of suspicion, she sniffed her sandwich but she smelled nothing but extra salt.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Kendra. "Fine, I'll drink it."
"No," said Timber immediately. She snatched it and put the drink under her with the intention of throwing it away after she finished eating. "It doesn't smell right."
"What?" said Ashley in confusion.
"My wolf senses don't fade when I'm in this form," said Timber. "My smell and my hearing are as powerful as they are when I'm in my real form. Something is in this drink that doesn't belong there. I'm not touching it and I'm not letting you guys have it either."
"I'm sorry, Timber," said Ashley.
"Don't worry about it," shrugged Timber. "Let's eat."
They ate and talked about the Winter Workshop that the high school put on for the first and second graders that went to Redwood Elementary. As seniors, they would be spending time with the kids the day before Christmas break and they were all excited. They were so wrapped up in their discussions and eating their sandwiches that they had all forgotten about the drink under Timber's seat. They were all reminded, however, when Timber stopped talking mid-sentence. Sean was walking over to their table looking perturbed about something.
"So I'm off for the day," he said. "Do you want to come over to my house and play a video game or something?"
"No," said Timber.
"Where's the drink I gave you?"
"Didn't drink it," said Timber pointedly. "Neither did anyone else. Now if you'll please leave us alone..."
"What's your problem Timber?" demanded Sean. "Do you think you're too good for me?"
"She has a boyfriend, Sean," said Xianna angrily. "Leave her alone."
"I'm talking to Timber, Xianna," said Sean coldly.
"Were you dropped on your head and thrown into a can of stupid?" asked Timber feeling heated. "We told you that we want you to leave."
Sean looked furious. "You're such a little bitch!"
All five girls jumped to their feet with their eyes narrowed. Timber felt her eyes start to water and overflow out of anger, not hurt. She found herself wishing she could Turn as she got the feeling Sean was about to do something senseless.
"Leave," she said quietly.
Sean frightened her, but her eyes were blazing with cold fury despite the steady stream of tears. Timber couldn't fight him off in this form but she knew her friends had her back. She stared at Sean. He was fuming.
"No," said Sean hotly, taking a threatening step towards her.
He raised his hand as if to hit her. She felt the girls move in from behind her, but before anyone could do anything else, Timber let out a high-pitched, ear-splitting scream though it sounded more like an eerie howl. Within a split second, Sean was on the ground. Several men had seen what was happening and rushed to the girls' aid. He was pinned to the floor and held by four full-grown men. He was wiggling wildly but his escape attempts were in vain. There were too many men pinning him down.
Within a few minutes, the police arrived with a K-9 unit for which Timber was thankful. With Timber standing in the back to avoid the dog's nose, the girls told the officers what happened. Xianna explained that Timber had a bad feeling about the drink so Timber didn't have to try to explain that she could smell whatever it was laced with. Though for her, talking was difficult at that point. The German Shepherd sniffed the soda and sat down. Timber knew right then that her nose had not let her down.
One of the officers left and came back with a kit and started testing the soda. The officer said it tested positive for a common date rape drug. Sean was immediately carried away in cuffs leaving one of the other officers with Timber and the girls who were all in absolute shock. Underage drinking wasn't uncommon among some of their classmates but none of them imagined anything like that happening.
"Do you have someone to call?" asked the officer kindly. "Would you like me to wait here with you until someone can pick you up?"
"We're alright," said Xianna. "Thank you."
"Good afternoon, ladies," said the officer and he took his leave and exited the building.
"I'm glad he's gone," said Ashley, pulling her red hair out of her freckled face. "From now on we need to trust Timber's nose. Am I right, Timber? Timber?"
Timber
wasn't moving. She was staring straight ahead of her wide-eyed and stone-faced. She was in shock. Her mind was racing with what would have happened if she couldn't smell the drugs. She or one of her friends could have been seriously hurt. Sean could have beaten them or worse, raped them.
"I'm calling Grace," said Xianna, holding up Timber's phone. Timber wanted to acknowledge that she heard but she couldn't speak or even move. "She's not answering." She dialed again. "Chad's not answering either. I'm trying Henry... Henry? Thank goodness. This is Xianna. You need to come and get Timber. Sean slipped a date rape drug in her drink..... She didn't take it. She could smell it.... Sean was arrested..... Timber's not moving. I think she's in shock... We're all at Laurel Deli....Thank you! Timber? Henry is on his way. Timber?"
Timber was still as motionless as a stone pillar. From her eyes, tears were beginning to fall. The girls wrapped themselves around her, thanking her for not letting them drink in an attempt to get her out of shock. It wasn't working.
After a few more minutes Timber's body began to relax. Her head was beginning to spin and her hands went numb. Her mouth went dry and her heart began racing. She felt suddenly ill. She couldn't think properly and her head was beginning to pound. Her eyes grew far too heavy for her to keep them open. She let them close and leaned into Xianna. It was difficult to breathe and she felt starved for oxygen. She began to sweat and pant heavily.
"Are you okay?" asked Ashley.
Timber could only whimper. Her hair was beginning to turn silver and when she opened her eyes to look at Xianna, her usually russet eyes were ice blue. Her nails were curling into claws and Gina, Xianna, and Ashley closed in around her to hide her from view. Gina was giving her ice water through a spoon to try to keep her cool. Timber lapped it up eagerly with her tongue. She could not sip because her fangs were lengthening, preventing her from closing her mouth properly. Xianna was doing her best to try to keep Timber awake and to keep her from Turning completely by talking to her softly.
"Oh! Dios mío!" cried Kendra. "Look!" Kendra had opened Timber's half-eaten sandwich and started tearing it apart. In between two slices of meat, was a very fine layer of white powder that was sprinkled on like salt. "Timber's sandwich was laced too!"
The Timber Effect Page 18
